Hiking Mount Jo in the Adirondacks At Peak Fall Foliage

Mount Jo is one of the most popular hikes in the Adirondack Mountains. It also has the parking lines and crowded summits to prove it. After seeing scenic panoramic shots of the view from Mount Jo on Instagram and TikTok, I wanted to see the mountain views for myself. I thought it was good timing to attempt the hike during fall with all the changing colors of the leaves. Apparently, so did dozens of other hikers.

I happened to visit Mount Jo on a record-breaking peak fall foliage weekend. Over 500 cars reportedly parked along the road at one point, making some hikers tack on an extra 2+ miles of walking before making it to the trailheads. While I predicted there would be some crowds, the huge line of cars in the overflow parking was a shock. So, I wanted to share a realistic play-by-play of what a busy day on a popular trail looked like beyond the elevation gain.

Here’s what I wish I knew before I hiked Mount Jo in the Adirondacks during the peak fall foliage season.

About The Adirondack Loj

The Adirondack Loj is a wilderness lodge and outdoor hub right outside Lake Placid, New York. It’s where the trailheads for Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak are found.

The Adirondack Lodge was constructed in 1878 by self-taught engineer Henry Van Hoevenberg. He built the 60-room lodge after his fiancée, Josephine Schofield, died.

In 1900, Melvil Dewey (yes, the creator of the Dewey Decimal System) bought the property for his Lake Placid Club. He shortened the name to “Adirondack Loj.”

Sadly, a massive forest fire totally destroyed the original structure in 1903.

Later in 1927, the Lake Placid Company built a new, more humble lodge. They decided to keep the shortened “Loj” spelling.

In the 1950s, the Adirondack Mountain Club, or ADK, purchased the property. Throughout the years, ADK expanded the property with modern dining and annex facilities. The organization continues to operate and manage the outdoor hub today.

The History of the Mount Jo Trail

You’ve learned that Henry Van Hoevenberg constructed the original Adirondack Lodge in memory of his love, Brooklynite Josephine “Jo” Schofield. In 1877, Henry and Jo met while hiking in Mount Marcy. They had an instant connection, and by the time they reached the peak of Marcy, they decided they would call the Adirondacks their home. They fell in love and quickly became engaged.

However, the couple would never make it to the altar. Jo mysteriously died not too long after they met. Some say her family arranged a different marriage, and she was so heartbroken that she jumped into Niagara Falls. Others say she wasn’t interested in the marriage, but fell ill and died from tuberculosis.

Whatever happened left Henry heartbroken. He would never marry, but instead devoted his time to building the Adirondack Lodge. He decided to name the nearby mountain peak Mount Jo, after his love. Henry also renamed nearby Clear Pond to Heart Lake. Henry also developed roughly 50 miles of scenic trails around Heart Lake and the High Peaks.

view of adirondack mountains from mount jo

Over the years, annual visitors grew to nearly 18,000 hikers, wearing down the Long Trail. The heavy foot traffic reportedly turned the trail into a washed-out stream bed. The Adirondack Mountain Club totally rebuilt the trail to protect the landscape and improve safety for all visitors.

The Parking Issue

My boyfriend and I turned onto the Adirondack Loj Road just before 6 AM on an October Saturday morning. On the Adirondack Loj website, it said parking at the Loj fills up by 6 AM on weekends. I assumed they meant during the summer. As we got closer to the parking lot entrance, the line of cars parked along the road stretched further and further. I thought we would beat the crowd for sunrise – clearly, I was wrong.

October 3rd was a record-breaking day for the hiking at the Adirondack Loj. Over 500 cars reportedly parked along the Adirondack Loj Road that day, breaking the previous record by over 85 vehicles during peak fall foliage season, per hike.adk and twobuttonsdeep.

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We did make it all the way to the parking lot entrance only to have my headlights shine right on the “Lot Full” sign.

We circled back up the road, squeezed the car along the curb, and started the trek to the trailhead with headlamps and flashlights guiding the way. So many other cars tried to do the same. Some cars turned around before the parking lot entrance; others had the same optimism I did and waited until they had confirmation of the full parking lot before making the U-turn. We had a short journey from the car to the trail.

It was only about a mile until we made it to the Mount Jo trailhead sign-in sheet.

The Actual Hike

The Mount Jo trail is a 2.5-mile-long loop that goes up a 2,832-foot mountain. It’s about a 700-foot elevation gain. The summit rewards hikers with a beautiful view of the High Peaks, like Algonquin, Cascade, Mount Colden, and the well-known Mount Marcy.

There are two ways to hike up Mount Jo: the Long Trail and the Short Trail. I took the Short Trail up. It was steep and had several rock scrambles, but was just under a mile to the top. When we reached the ladders that take you to the summit, we veered off to the right to take a small trail down to one of the big cliffs. We joined many other hikers on that cliff waiting for the sun to peek over the horizon.

If you continue up the ladders to the summit, you’ll still be rewarded with views of the High Peaks, but some trees may obstruct your views. Heading down to the cliffs (carefully, might I add) allows you to see Heart Lake down below.

The Long Trail is slightly longer and has less of an incline. Many hikers will take the short trail up to reach the summit quickly, then take the long trail down for an easier descent.

Because it’s such a short hike, it’s become popular for photographers and creators looking for amazing pictures of the Adirondacks without lugging their gear for dozens of miles up a mountain.

What I Would Prepare For Hiking Mount Jo

Thanks to Instagram, influencers, and the internet in general, Mount Jo has become a very popular and accessible hike in the Adirondacks. Arriving at the summit looked like an Instagram outdoorsy creator meetup. It was a mix of professional photographers, amateur photogs, hobby hikers, and boyfriends/girlfriends of creators who got dragged on the hike, too. Be prepared to have to wait for a good spot to get your mountain photos in, selfie style or not. Patience is key.

There are dozens of different cameras taking photos of the mountains, trees, clouds, fall foliage, hikers, and everything in between. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was in the background of several photos during my visit the other weekend. Make sure to be mindful of the other people getting their photos in, too. They worked just as hard as you did to hike up the trail and get to the overlook.

It was hard to put my camera away. The hike is popular for a reason; you get unobstructed views (as long as it’s not cloudy) of Mount Marcy and the other High Peaks. You can see the red, orange, and golden leaves reflecting in Heart Lake below. If you get there for sunrise, as I did, you can see the clouds drift across the mountains, the fog lifting as the sun rises higher in the sky. The morning sun almost reflects off the golden autumn leaves. My camera roll was full of videos and photos of different angles of the beautiful scene unfolding among the mountains. Erin’s Tip: Take your time at the summit, but be mindful of other hikers looking to enjoy similar views, too. Everyone deserves their moment to take in the mountain views.

My Mount Jo experience was pleasant. Everyone I spoke with or sat near was friendly and happy to be there. I was thankful there was no tension or animosity amongst the hikers at the lookout. I’ve heard horror stories of awkward encounters, so I was grateful I didn’t have my own to add to the list. While I think this should be an automatic for everyone, here’s a reminder anyway: be kind.

Have you hiked this trail, or other trails at the Adirondack Loj? Did you have to share the summit with dozens of other hikers, or did you get a quiet experience? Share what your experience was like in the comments; we can commiserate or celebrate together.